China Tells Defense Secretary Gates Not To Visit

WASHINGTON — China has ruled out a stopover by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who had hoped to make improved military ties with Beijing the centerpiece of his trip to Asia this week.

Gates leaves Wednesday for an around-the-world trip that will take him to countries in Asia and Europe, but aides said China has explained that this is not a convenient time.

Beijing didn't elaborate, but China leaders were angered by the Obama administration's recent decision to go ahead with arms sales to Taiwan worth more than $6 billion.

Gates will spend the weekend meeting with defense officials from every other major Asian power during a security conference in Singapore.

Comments

[From the Raft]

12:17 AM on 06/03/2010

So Gates is standing in for the SOS?

Being Secretary of Defense should leave him no time for toasts in China!

Here's a toast that he succeed in getting us out of Afghanistan.

[Balzac]

11:07 PM on 06/02/2010

The Chinese should invite me to visit again. I'm due for a vacation, and some cultural ambassadorship.

[easyq02]

08:29 PM on 06/02/2010

Let them be angry, it doesn't change the fact that we are arming Taiwan. It doesn't change the fact that our economies are tightly coupled. It doesn't change the fact that the rulers will keep enriching themselves by paying workers low wages to produce cheap products that they can sell to us to enrich those in control of their Communist state. Why the crocodile tears about this snub to Gates, he's a big boy and can handle it. He knows the game...

[Y2KCockroach]

11:07 PM on 06/02/2010

It doesn't change the fact that China is going to re-take Taiwan when they deem the time to be right, and it doesn't change the fact that our arming of Taiwan is not going to make a particle of difference in the outcome. All we are doing is ensuring that an armed takeover will be that more bloody, for both the mainland Chinese and the Taiwanese. The Chinese are angry at us not because we have changed that outcome, but that we seem willing to make it more costly.

The repatriation of Taiwan will happen; the Chinese leadership has made that a long-term priority, and the Chinese will run right through anyone who tries to stop them, the United States included.

Of course they are angry with our mischief.

[Redeemer777]

12:01 PM on 06/03/2010

I call BS.

There is a certain cost of annexing Taiwan beyond which the Chinese would not bother. Both the Chinese and the Americans know the numbers.

[easyq02]

08:17 PM on 06/02/2010

So what's your point? That we continue to be arrogant world leaders and not show any respect to other countries sovereignty? Why do all of the President's critics expect is form of diplomacy to literally work overnight? The biggest issue we have as American citizens is the lack of patience...

[JTHC75]

06:47 PM on 06/02/2010

Nice. Despite what people think, diplomacy won't change just because people like Obama more than Bush. Countries will still do what they think is in their national interest, not ours. People may like Obama, a lot, but popularity is inconsequential to foreign policy. This notion of "smart diplomacy" or "soft power" is an unfunny joke. It's still about diplomacy and power, period.

[easyq02]

08:18 PM on 06/02/2010

So what's your point? That we continue to be arrogant world leaders and not show any respect to other countries sovereignty? Why do all of the President's critics expect is form of diplomacy to literally work overnight? The biggest issue we have as American citizens is the lack of patience...

[risingsun4995]

05:21 PM on 06/02/2010

Can someone tell me why is it that we can have the military intervene because of terrorists, yet never send the military to intervene when countries terrorize their own people. Would it not be better to export farming tools and construction materials instead of weapons.

[Claw2122]

09:00 PM on 06/02/2010

"Can someone tell me why is it that we can have the military intervene because of terrorists, yet never send the military to intervene when countries terrorize their own people."

I didn't see or hear about any countries trying to help us in the 8 terrorizing years under Bush so screw them i say.

[risingsun4995]

05:17 PM on 06/02/2010

Can someone tell me why it is that we can send our military invasion for terrorists, yet never send our military to intervene when countries terrorize their own people. We it not be better to export farming tools and construction materials in trade for natural resources instead of weapons.

[yappnmutt]

03:29 PM on 06/02/2010

its really embarrassing to have the country the usa gave all its wealth to have it thrown back in our face.

[RonRutherford]

03:06 PM on 06/02/2010

And this is a good example of why we shouldn't be giving ANY country aid or interfering in any way as a government. All it does it cause more problems, weakens ties with other countries (See: Middle East), and puts Americans in danger. Will we ever learn?

http://therationalreport.blogspot.com/

[Lpeter]

03:01 PM on 06/02/2010

Weapons for sale come and get your weapons for sale Hurry before they are all gone and the people too!!

War is an ugly business! How about we export green and farming technology so we can heal the world??

Naw, that is boring and not profitable enough.

What the heck are we doing?? We're supposed to be the leaders?? Peace please.

[esolesek]

07:56 PM on 06/02/2010

Green and farming technology could be profitable enough, its just that different people would benefit from the money hose than the ones who do now. World progress is being blocked by people who won't be knocked off their personal gravy train of arms, oil and drugs at any cost.
Anyone who gets power and money doesnt want it to stop. It has nothing to do with logic or justice.
The only justice the people have is direct action, and its usually misdirected at the wrong targets.

Non-violence has succeeded, but that doesn't make it overall a success. You want things to change, you change them Mao style. The problem then is re-democratizing. Humans are screwed. We need benevolent dictators, and that's an oxymoron 90% of the time. Democracy is a joke. It just gets corrupted and abused by closet dictators with all the power, and none of the accountability or visibility.

It's high time for a return to nationalistic, anti-corporate leaders, but good luck getting funded and not assassinated. Globalization is an utter failure. Maybe its fine for electronics and extras, but basic needs - food, energy, clothing, housing should be produced locally, not shipped across the globe. People needs jobs locally. Average people need to show corporations they are not milquetoasts, and a good place to start is well, ya know.

[bighat]

02:28 PM on 06/02/2010

Quick, someone send China Obama's has raised the status of the US around the world. I am sure if they knew Gates is a disciple of the messian they would roll out the red carpet

[HuffDave13]

02:46 PM on 06/02/2010

You are pathetic

[OliverTwist]

03:16 PM on 06/02/2010

You disgrace your avatar.

[who38]

02:27 PM on 06/02/2010

Doesn't China understand that the US, like Israel, will sell arms to anyone on the planet who will buy them while berating countries like Iran, who they see as being potential competitors?

This could be a learning experience for the US; think they will make the most of this opportunity?

[KarlaElisa]

03:06 PM on 06/02/2010

So true. How our weapons make the world go round...

[jjunkyyard]

06:15 PM on 06/02/2010

U R A J A C K A # #

[Jennifer Hagan]

02:18 PM on 06/02/2010

Them not accepting him isn't over the War in Iraq, it is over Taiwan. Did people not even read the article? When people call Gates a merchant of death, sure it is true. However, look at China. You don't think the Chinese have been merchants of death for decades? Some of you have forgotten Tiananmen Square but I sure haven't.

[who38]

02:28 PM on 06/02/2010

Stop with the deflection, already. One person was killed in Tiananmen Square; how many did the US kill in Iraq or Israel kill at sea during the past week?

[putputtin]

02:31 PM on 06/02/2010

One person? The mayor of Beijing said 200 and many considered that woefully underestimated.

[Backdrifts]

02:44 PM on 06/02/2010

You do realize that the Tiananmen Square "incident" was nation-wide, involved thousands of people (including academics and students who are still "missing") across dozens of cities, and estimated deaths in the hundreds if not thousands (since China will not release any information on the event)?

[bighat]

02:29 PM on 06/02/2010

You believe Obama would have a merchant of death in his cabinet?

Shame

[Elbrando]

01:43 PM on 06/02/2010

I would tell China that if they have no time to meet him I am sure that Tiawan has the time.

[who38]

02:29 PM on 06/02/2010

But, does Taiwan have the money?

[foxisms]

01:37 PM on 06/02/2010

Why would anyone with a conscience openly welcome a merchant of death?

[bighat]

02:32 PM on 06/02/2010

Gates is a representative of President Obama. So by calling Gates a merchant of death then the one who hired him would be_____________?

[foxisms]

03:32 PM on 06/02/2010

President Obama is an elected representative and symbolizes the will and vision of the American people.
So by calling Obama a ____________, then the AMerican people would be_____________?